Recreation range

ABSTRACT

A recreation range system ( 10 ) including a field ( 11 ) and a rotatable range carousel ( 13 ).

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the U.S. National Phase of PCT/AU2003/000949 filedJul. 29, 2003 and claims priority to Australian Application No.2002950433 filed Jul. 29, 2002, which are hereby incorporated byreference herein.

The present invention relates to facilities adapted for activitiesrelated to aspects of sport and, in particular, where elements of aparticular sport may be practiced for amusement or personal improvement.

BACKGROUND

Facilities specifically adapted to the practice of either all or some ofthe aspects of a particular sport are known. For example bowling alleysand bowling greens provide such facilities where all aspects of thegames of pin and lawn bowling may be performed. Examples of facilitiesproviding for the practice of certain aspects of a game are mini golfranges, putting greens and golf driving ranges.

In the latter example, players are provided with a play station orposition where golf balls and other equipment is provided together withamenities so as to allow a player to practice a variety of golf strokesin a convenient environment.

Such facilities are not available for large ball games such as forexample the game of soccer. Practice of this particular game for examplecan only be performed in a sufficiently open space where for a singleplayer ball return becomes at least tedious. As well there is littlevariation possible, particularly for an individual wishing to improvehis or her ball skills, either for amusement or for serious practice.

It is an object of the present invention to address or ameliorate atleast one of the above disadvantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Accordingly, in one broad form of the invention there is provided arecreation range system including a field and a rotatable rangecarousel.

Preferably said range carousel is provided with at least one playerlevel wherein the periphery of said player level is divided into aplurality of player lanes, said player lanes provided with ball deliverymeans and said field provided with ball retrieval means.

Preferably the periphery of said field is provided with a plurality oftarget structures.

Preferably said carousel is offset from the center of said field.

Preferably said field slopes downwardly from said carousel to saidperiphery of said field.

Preferably said field is constructed as a suspended surface overlying asubstantially dished subsurface.

The recreation range system of claim 1 wherein said carousel is providedwith two player levels; an upper level and a lower level arranged oneabove the other around a central support column.

Preferably said central support column is rotatably supported, saidcolumn and said carousel adapted to be urged in circular motion by apower source acting through a drive train.

Preferably said ball delivery means and said ball retrieval means areadapted to process a range of ball sizes.

Preferably said ball delivery means and said ball retrieval means areprovided with a plurality of balls, each of said balls provided with aunique electronically readable ball recognition code.

Preferably said ball retrieval means is adapted to return balls from theperiphery of said field to said central support column.

Preferably said ball retrieval means includes a plurality of ballcollection troughs disposed around the periphery of said field, each ofsaid collection troughs communicating with said central support columnby underground shafts sloping downwardly from said periphery towardssaid central support column.

Preferably said ball retrieval means includes a plurality of openingsalong the periphery of said field, said openings allowing balls to dropto said dished subsurface.

Preferably said ball delivery means is provided with a ball collectionsand sorting chamber adapted to sort said ball sizes and deliver sortedballs to designated said player lanes.

Preferably a player urges a ball to follow a trajectory from one of saidplayer lanes in a generally radial direction from said range carouseltowards said periphery of said field.

Preferably a ball urged by said player from said player lane towardssaid periphery of said field is tracked electronically.

Preferably said target structures are adapted to display a variety oftarget images.

Preferably said target images are provided with electronic sensor meansadapted to record the impact of a ball and the recognition code of saidball.

Preferably said target images are associated with a point credit system,said credit system adapted to award credit points to a player when aball urged by said player strikes said target image.

Preferably said field may be adapted to display a number of targetareas, said target areas provided with sensors to detect the impact of aball and the recognition code of said ball.

Preferably said credit points accruing to a player are electronicallydisplayed on display means at the player lane used by said player.

Preferably said credit points accrued to a player during a playersession are stored in a central database storage facility as a score,said score being available for retrieval from said database for displayat subsequent player sessions.

Preferably said scores stored in said database storage facility areavailable for printout.

Preferably said scores are associated with a prize conferring system.

Preferably said field is provided with a plurality of ball mortarsarranged radially and at various distances from the center of said rangecarousel, said ball mortars adapted to urge a ball into any one of arange of specified trajectories, said trajectories ending in the area ofa player lane.

Preferably said trajectories are adapted to present a ball to a saidplayer on said player lane simulating a range of ball approaches to aplayer as experienced in a game of soccer.

Preferably said ball retrieval means is adapted to provide said balls ondemand to said ball mortars.

Preferably said carousel is provided with amenities, said amenitiesincluding a kiosk.

Preferably said upper player level is provided with a safety netextending radially outward from the periphery of said player level.

In a further broad form of the invention there is provided a method foroperating a recreation range, said recreation range including a fieldand a rotatable range carousel, said range carousel provided with atleast one player level wherein the periphery of said player level isdivided into a plurality of player lanes, said player lanes providedwith ball delivery means and said field provided with ball retrievalmeans; said method comprising conveying players on a arcuate path over aportion of said range.

Preferably said field is of generally ovoid shape.

Preferably the periphery of said field is provided with a plurality oftarget structures.

Preferably said carousel is offset from the center of said ovoid shape.

Preferably the surface of said field slopes downwardly from saidcarousel to said periphery of said field.

Preferably said field is constructed as a suspended surface overlying asubstantially dished subsurface.

Preferably said carousel is provided with two player levels; an upperlevel and a lower level arranged one above the other around a centralsupport column.

Preferably said central support column is rotatably supported, saidcolumn and said carousel adapted to be urged in circular motion by apower source acting through a drive train.

Preferably said ball delivery means and said ball retrieval means areadapted to process a range of ball sizes.

Preferably said ball delivery means and said ball retrieval means areprovided with a plurality of balls, each of said balls provided with aunique electronically readable ball recognition code.

Preferably said ball retrieval means is adapted to return balls from theperiphery of said field to said central support column.

Preferably said ball retrieval means includes a plurality of ballcollection troughs disposed around the periphery of said field, each ofsaid collection troughs communicating with said central support columnby underground shafts sloping downwardly from said periphery towardssaid central support column.

Preferably said ball retrieval means includes a plurality of openingsalong the periphery of said field, said openings allowing balls to dropto said dished subsurface.

Preferably said ball delivery means is provided with a ball collectionsand sorting chamber adapted to sort said ball sizes and deliver sortedballs to designated said player lanes.

Preferably a player urges a ball to follow a trajectory from one of saidplayer lanes in a generally radial direction from said range carouseltowards said periphery of said field.

Preferably a ball urged by said player from said player lane towardssaid periphery of said field is tracked electronically.

Preferably said target structures are adapted to display a variety oftarget images.

Preferably said target images are provided with electronic sensor meansadapted to record the impact of a ball and the recognition code of saidball.

Preferably said target images are associated with a point credit system,said credit system adapted to award credit points to a player when aball urged by said player strikes said target image.

Preferably said field may be adapted to display a number of targetareas, said target areas provided with sensors to detect the impact of aball and the recognition code of said ball.

Preferably said credit points accruing to a player are electronicallydisplayed on display means at the player lane used by said player.

Preferably said credit points accrued to a player during a playersession are stored in a central database storage facility as a score,said score being available for retrieval from said database for displayat subsequent player sessions.

Preferably said scores stored in said database storage facility areavailable for printout.

Preferably said scores are associated with a prize conferring system.

Preferably said field is provided with a plurality of ball mortarsarranged radially and at various distances from the center of said rangecarousel, said ball mortars adapted to urge a ball into any one of arange of specified trajectories, said trajectories ending in the area ofa player lane.

Preferably said trajectories are adapted to present a ball to a saidplayer on said player lane simulating a range of ball approaches to aplayer as experienced in a game of soccer.

Preferably said ball retrieval means is adapted to provide said balls ondemand to said ball mortars.

Preferably said carousel is provided with amenities, said amenitiesincluding a kiosk.

Preferably said ball retrieval means is adapted to provide said balls ondemand to said ball mortars.

Preferably said upper player level is provided with a safety netextending radially outward from the periphery of said player level.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described withreference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of recreation range according to a preferredembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectioned elevation view of the recreation range of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged portion of the section elevation view of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectioned elevation view of a further preferred embodimentof the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A first preferred embodiment of a recreation range 10 according to theinvention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

Accordingly in FIG. 1 is shown a field 11 of ovoid shape with periphery12 and range carousel 13 offset from the field center. Preferably rangecarousel 13 is located at a somewhat higher level than the periphery 12so that the surface 14 of field 11 slopes downwardly towards theperiphery 12, the slope being sufficient to allow a ball 15 to rolltowards periphery 12.

Arranged around periphery 12 of field 11 are target structures 16. Alsoarranged around periphery 12 are ball collection troughs 17 providedwith underground shafts 18 sloping downwardly to the center of rangecarousel 13 to provide ball retrieval means. Range carousel 13 is offsetfrom the field center so as to give as wide a range of distances aspossible from the carousel 13 to the target structures 16 at fieldperiphery 12.

In an alternative preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the field11 is constructed as a suspended surface 19 overlying a dishedsubsurface 20 where the subsurface 20 rises from the center of rangecarousel 13 to the periphery 32 of the field 11. Peripheral openings 21in the suspended field surface 18 allow for the entry of balls 15, theseballs then rolling down the dished subsurface to collect at the centralsupport column 22 of range carousel 13.

In a preferred embodiment as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 range carousel 13 isconstructed with two player levels, upper level 23 and lower level 24forming circular discs around central support column 22. The outerannular segment of each player level is divided into a plurality ofplayer lanes 25 as may best be seen in FIG. 1. Upper level 23 is furtherprovided with annular safety net 26 extending outwardly from itsperiphery.

Range carousel 13 is rotatably supported on bearings and driven by asuitable power source and drive train (not shown) to rotate the carouselabout its central axis 27. Thus each player lane 25 is brought intoalignment with every target structure 16 and any other feature of field11 once every revolution of range carousel 13.

Each player lane 25 is provided with a ball delivery means 28 fed from acentral ball distribution system 29 located in central support column22. In a preferred embodiment, at least three sizes of balls 15 may beselected by a player 30 so as to allow for players from young childrento adults.

As well as being able to select a ball from the ball delivery means 28of the range carousel 13, a player 30 may elect to be passed a ball fromany one of a number of ball mortars 31 disposed at various distancesfrom the range carousel 13 and generally radial to its center. Themanner of the pass is further selectable by a player 30 so that thetrajectory 32 and delivery of the ball 15 by the ball mortar 31 maysimulate a variety of typical passes such as experienced in the game ofsoccer. Thus by means of the two methods of ball supply, a player mayfor example elect to kick a placed ball, kick a ball on the volley,“head” or “chest” a ball.

Balls 15 kicked or otherwise ejected by players 30 from the rangecarousel 13 may hit one of the target structures 16 at the fieldperiphery 12 or fall short onto the sloping surface 14 or 19 of thefield 11. In either case a used ball 15 will roll into a ball collectiontrough 17 or peripheral opening 21 and subsequently into its associatedunderground shaft 18 or onto subsurface 20 to thence roll downwardly tothe central support column 22 of the range carousel 13.

Located in the base of the central support column 22 is ball collectionand sorting chamber 33. For clarity FIG. 3 shows only a single size balldistribution system 29 but separate distribution pathways are providedfor each size of ball offered for play. After sorting in chamber 33balls 15 are raised to the upper level 23 for further distribution tothe player lanes 25 on each player level.

Balls are provided sequentially for the duration of a playing session.In one preferred embodiment a playing session is limited to onerevolution of the range carousel.

All balls are provided with a unique electronically readable recognitioncode. Target structures 16 are in this embodiment provided with avariety of target images which are fitted with sensors adapted toregister the impact and recognition code of a ball. Sensors areassociated with particular target images so that a point creditingsystem may award points to a player whose ball impacts a particulartarget image. Points gained by a player during a playing session areaccrued to accord a score to the player. The score so gained is storedin a central database facility for subsequent retrieval if desired. Thusa players may play for the highest score among a group of players or anindividual player may attempt to better his previous score in subsequentplaying sessions.

To allow a player to select a method of play (ball from range carouseldelivery means or from a ball mortar) and as a means of communicating atarget hit and any points scored, each player lane is provided with aplayer terminal 34. Player terminals are provided with selection inputmeans and score display means. Optionally terminals could also functionas fee collection stations to allow a player to make deposits of playingfees for as many playing sessions as he or she wishes to play.Optionally terminals may include a printing means so as to provide aplayer with a printed record of the game played and the points and scoreattained.

In a further preferred embodiment the surface of field 11 may beprovided with a number of demarcated areas in the vicinity of the rangecarousel, these areas provided with impact and coded registering sensorsso as to allow players to practice heading or high kicking a ball withaccuracy to land on a selected demarcated area.

Clearly the basic recreation range herein described may be adapted invarious ways to provide additional interest to players as well asproviding additional revenue streams to the recreation range operator.Thus by way of example, certain target images or accrued scores may beassociated with special prizes; target structures may be adapted tocarry advertising for products and the range carousel could be providedwith kiosk facilities.

1. A recreation range system including a field and a rotatable rangecarousel arranged thereon wherein, said range carousel is provided withat least one player level wherein a periphery of said player level isdivided into a plurality of player lanes, said player lanes providedwith ball delivery means and said field provided with ball retrievalmeans, wherein said ball retrieval means is adapted to return balls fromthe periphery of said field to a central support column and wherein therange system is configured such that a player urges a ball to follow atrajectory from one of said player lanes in a generally radial directionfrom said range carousel towards said periphery of said field.
 2. Therecreation range system of claim 1 wherein the periphery of said fieldis provided with a plurality of target structures.
 3. The recreationrange system of claim 2 wherein said carousel is offset from the centerof said field.
 4. The recreation range system of claim 3 wherein thesurface of said field slopes downwardly from said carousel to saidperiphery of said field.
 5. The recreation range system of claim 4wherein said field is constructed as a suspended surface overlying asubstantially dished subsurface.
 6. The recreation range system of claim1 wherein said carousel is provided with two player levels; an upperlevel and a lower level arranged one above the other around a centralsupport column.
 7. The recreation range system of claim 6 wherein saidcentral support column is rotatably supported, said column and saidcarousel adapted to be urged in circular motion by a power source actingthrough a drive train.
 8. The recreation range system of claim 7 whereinsaid ball delivery means and said ball retrieval means are adapted toprocess a range of ball sizes.
 9. The recreation range system of claim 8wherein said ball delivery means and said ball retrieval means areprovided with a plurality of balls, each of said balls provided with aunique electronically readable ball recognition code.
 10. The recreationrange system of claim 1 wherein said ball retrieval means includes aplurality of ball collection troughs disposed around the periphery ofsaid field, each of said collection troughs communicating with saidcentral support column by underground shafts sloping downwardly fromsaid periphery towards said central support column.
 11. The recreationrange system of claim 10 wherein said ball delivery means is providedwith a ball collections and sorting chamber adapted to sort said ballsizes and deliver sorted balls to designated said player lanes.
 12. Therecreation range system of claim 1 wherein said ball retrieval meansincludes a plurality of openings along the periphery of said field, saidopenings allowing balls to drop to said dished subsurface.
 13. Therecreation range system of claim 1 wherein a ball urged by said playerfrom said player lane towards said periphery of said field is trackedelectronically.
 14. The recreation range system of claim 13 wherein saidtarget structures are adapted to display a variety of target images. 15.The recreation range system of claim 14 wherein said target images areprovided with electronic sensor means adapted to record the impact of aball and the recognition code of said ball.
 16. The recreation rangesystem of claim 15 wherein said target images are associated with apoint credit system, said credit system adapted to award credit pointsto a player when a ball urged by said player strikes said target image.17. The recreation range system of claim 16 wherein said field may beadapted to display a number of target areas, said target areas providedwith sensors to detect the impact of a ball and the recognition code ofsaid ball.
 18. The recreation range system of claim 17 wherein saidcredit points accruing to a player are electronically displayed ondisplay means at the player lane used by said player.
 19. A recreationrange system comprising: a field wherein the field is provided with ballretrieval means; and a rotatable range carousel arranged on the fieldwherein the range carousel is provided with at least one player leveland wherein a periphery of the player level is divided into a pluralityof player lanes and wherein the player lanes are provided with balldelivery means wherein said carousel is provided with two player levels,an upper level and a lower level arranged one above the other around acentral support column, wherein said central support column is rotatablysupported, and wherein the column and the carousel are adapted to beurged in circular motion by a power source acting through a drive trainwherein the ball delivery means and the ball retrieval means are adaptedto process a range of ball sizes and wherein the ball delivery means andthe ball retrieval means are provided with a plurality of balls, whereineach of the balls is provided with a unique electronically readable ballrecognition code and wherein the ball retrieval means is adapted toreturn balls from the periphery of the field to the central supportcolumn.